Egg Stem Cells

TECHNOLOGY
Stem cells in ­ovarian tissue could form new eggs or be used to rejuvenate a woman’s existing eggs.

OTHER NOTABLE INNOVATORS

Evelyn Telfer
University of Edinburgh, Scotland

David Albertini
University of Kansas

Jonathan Tilly may have discovered a way to slow the ticking of women's biological clocks. In a paper published in March, the Harvard University reproductive biologist and his colleagues reported that women carry egg stem cells in their ovaries into adulthood—a possible key to extending the age at which a woman might have a baby.

Today, a woman's fertility is limited by her total supply of eggs and by the diminished quality of those eggs as she reaches her 40s. Tilly's work with the stem cells—cells that can differentiate, or develop into other kinds of cells—could address both issues. For one thing, it's possible that these newly discovered cells could be coaxed to develop into new eggs. And even if not, he says, they could be used to rejuvenate an older woman's existing eggs.

Tilly first found egg stem cells in mice in 2004. Once he identified egg stem cells in ovarian tissue from adult women, he isolated the cells and injected them into human ovary tissue that was then transplanted into mice. There the cells differentiated into human oocytes, the immature egg cells that mature, one at a time, at ovulation. Tilly didn't take these oocytes any further, but he says he has gotten egg stem cells from mice to generate functional mouse eggs that were fertilized and exhibited early embryonic development.

The research is still a long way from creating a crying human newborn. Nevertheless, the paper "changes what we understand" about fertility, says Tilly, who also directs a center for reproductive biology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Though some of Tilly's peers remain dubious that the cells he's found in women's ovarian tissue are actually stem cells or could become functional egg cells, many find the research provocative. "I think this is a very intriguing leap," says Elizabeth McGee, an associate professor and head of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Virginia Commonwealth University. "However, I think there's still a long way to go before this becomes a useful product for women."

Boston-based OvaScience, which is commercializing Tilly's work, hopes it won't be too long. The company's cofounders include venture capitalist Christoph Westphal and Harvard antiaging researcher David Sinclair, who founded Sirtris Pharmaceuticals and sold it to GlaxoSmithKline for $720 million in 2008. OvaScience has raised $43 million to pursue fertility treatments and other applications for the stem cells.

One of the more tantalizing implications is that this technology could be used to reclaim the youth of an older woman's eggs. Tilly says he can do this by transferring mitochondria—the cell's power source—from the stem-cell-derived cells into the existing eggs. Researchers who tried something similar in the 1990s, with the help of young donors, found that mitochondria from the donors' egg cells could improve the viability of older eggs. But the nearly 30 children who resulted from this work ended up with DNA from two women as well as their father. (It's not clear whether the children suffered any health consequences.) By being her own source for the younger mitochondria, a woman could avoid that potentially dangerous mix of DNA, Tilly says.

David Albertini, director of the Center for Reproductive Sciences at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a member of OvaScience's advisory board, says he "can't wait to get [his] hands on" Tilly's cells for his own egg research. But he says it's too soon to consider implanting them in women before much more testing is done in mice.

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Last time I checked there wasn't a shortage of humans on the Earth.... so that means this is being done so that UN-necessary excess children can be brought into the world to starve. Ignorance obviously isn't the sole domain of the religious.

Medical research isn't just about giving ignorant selfish people what they want.

1189 Days Ago

04/30/2012

The research work is very sound in fulfulling child bearingaspirations of significant population of women folks whosereproductive difficulties correlate with age. But the hallmark question arises !! How broad based in our thinking are wein guaranteeing that advanced age child bearing trend, is not onlyrisk free to the mother,but produces wholesome humans that meetfast thinking dynamics of ever changing human society ? It is not funny when I put in 'pointblank' to an intended ladyin her 30s that any conception and delivery to my smart kid,or kids, must be accomplished before her 40th birthday,otherwise,the line of thought is permanently eliminated.We live at smarter time,and must act smarter,at all times,especially,on matters that touch on human life.Martin Atayo

1181 Days Ago

05/08/2012

with the advances in medical science related to DNA and stem cells a lot of questions arise.My children -if they make it to 50- might actually be able to get to 1000. I'd wonder specifically about the redwood forests trees. I don't think there is an analagous 'stem' cell for plant matter, but all I've read so far in stem cell research is related to the eventual decay(or loss) of the protein that actually feeds the 'replication cycle' of the DNA in the cells to start with. I wonder about plant cells and their replication abilities- do we understand enough about how it works to avoid some very costly mistakes when we make changes to God's versions (the natural order of things-not necessarily the best one?).AKA sickle cell anemia being resistant to malarial spyrochetes(sp?). Seems a choice of 'druthers'.....

1082 Days Ago

08/15/2012

I'm not sure that's a good idea. I wouldn't want to be putting a kid thru college when I'm on Social Security.

Kellyhttp://www.zazzle.com

1058 Days Ago

09/08/2012

I wait for the technology to being issued because I couldn't have a baby in my mid40s and still don't have one. Thanks

1057 Days Ago

09/09/2012

@nadbaj Regardless of sophistication of the any technology,a baby over an age 40 is not highly encouragedbecause of problems of offspring wholesomenessand socio-cultural and biophysical-chemistry dynamicsassociated with expectant mother.A smarter society with sound planning system must dissuadeand discourage child bearing at an age above 40 to ensuresmarter population.Martin AtayoWashington,DC

850 Days Ago

04/04/2013

But the nearly 30 children who resulted from this work ended up with DNA from two women as well as their father. (It's not clear whether the children suffered any health consequences.) By being her own source for the younger mitochondria, a woman could avoid that potentially dangerous mix of DNA, Tilly says.

Twin sons of different mothers?

The four horsemen are more related tp the nature of the beast- war famine pestilence and death is a matter of morals- choices if you will. ie corporate welfare- where feeding the machine is more important than feeding the people. Rain water collection, urban farms, abundance rather than price manipulation/greed. Weather control s still debated thpugh possible (silver iodide, microwve/water natural frequency, etc....). Weather studies show having water brings more water (thermal convective?).

And Abraham's wife was how old? with how many children? The promise of God doesn't include the mistakes man would make along the way.